Flashlight served as warning light of bicycle

ABSTRACT

A warning light of bicycle comprises a flashlight comprising a battery compartment including spaced, arcuate projections around a forward extension, a rear holed tab for connection to a lanyard, and a bottom slot; a cylindrical LED carrier assembly including rear contacts electrically interconnecting cells and LEDs; and a cylindrical head assembly including inner recesses engaged with $ projections by turning the head assembly a small angle about the battery compartment; and a clip assembly releasably secured around a tube component of the bicycle, an upper seat having two arcuate wings for clamping the battery compartment, a latch member inserted into the slot for fastening the flashlight, and a flexible tab adapted to press down to clear the latch member from the slot for disengaging the flashlight from the clip assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to flashlights and moreparticularly to an improved flashlight with a LED (light-emitting diode)light source also served as a warning light of a bicycle when securedthereto.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] An exploded view of a conventional flashlight is shown in FIG. 1.The flashlight comprises a battery compartment 10 including anexternally threaded extension 11 having outer threads 110 and an O-ring1111 a waterproof button 12 on an outer surface, and a rear holed tab 13for connection to a lanyard or the like so as to facilitate carrying, abattery assembly 20 including two cells 211 a board 22, and two coilsprings 23, a cylindrical LED carrier assembly 30 anchored in a forwardportion of the battery compartment 10, the LED carrier assembly 30including an internal LED 311 two rear contacts 33 electricallyinterconnecting the cells 21 and the LED, and a top switch 32 engagedwith the button 12 so that a pressing of the button 12 can cause theswitch 32 to turn on the LED 31 for blinking or turn off the LED 31, anda cylindrical head assembly 40 including a front lens for projectinglight and inner threads 41 engageable with the outer threads 110 forsecuring the head assembly 40 to the battery compartment 10 andmaintaining a water-tight seal by compressing the O-ring 111.

[0005] However, the prior art suffered from several disadvantages. Forexample, the threaded fastening of the head assembly 40 and the batterycompartment 10 may increase time in detaching the head assembly 40 fromthe battery compartment 10 for then replacing the consumed cells 21.Moreover, there is no provision of means for releasably securing theflashlight to a bicycle component such as crossbar. Thus, it isdifficult to secure the prior flashlight to a bicycle. Hence, a need forimprovement exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a warninglight of a bicycle. The warning light comprises a flashlight comprisinga battery compartment including a forward cylindrical shoulderextension, a plurality of projections equally spaced apart around theshoulder extension, each projection having two arcuate side slopes, anO-ring behind the projections, a waterproof button on an outer surface,a rear holed tab for connection to a lanyard, and a bottom slot; abattery assembly including a plurality of cells; a cylindrical LEDcarrier assembly anchored in a forward portion of the batterycompartment, the LED carrier assembly including a plurality of internalLEDs, a plurality of rear contacts electrically interconnecting thecells and the LEDs, and a top switch engaged with the button so that apressing of the button causes the switch to either turn on the LEDs forblinking or turn off the LEDs; and a cylindrical head assembly includinga front lens for projecting light and a plurality of inner recesses eachhaving an arcuate section for facilitating the projection to engage withthe recess by passing the arcuate side slope through the arcuate sectionwhen turning the head assembly an angle relative to the batterycompartment after engaging; and a clip assembly comprising a ringsleeved around a tube component of the bicycle, a latch fastener forfastening the ring on the tube component, an upper seat having two pairsof arcuate wings for clamping the battery compartment, a resilient pieceon a forward side of the seat, a latch member on the resilient piece,the latch member being adapted to insert into the slot for fastening theflashlight, and a flexible tab extended forwardly from the seat, the tabbeing adapted to press down to clear the latch member from the slot fordisengaging the flashlight from the clip assembly.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide awarning light of a bicycle. The warning light comprises a flashlightcomprising a battery compartment including a forward cylindricalshoulder extension, a plurality of projections equally spaced apartaround the shoulder extension, each projection having two arcuate sideslopes, an O-ring behind the projections, a waterproof button on anouter surface, a rear holed tab for connection to a lanyard, a bottomslot, and a lengthwise groove at either side thereof; a battery assemblyincluding a plurality of cells; a cylindrical LED carrier assemblyanchored in a forward portion of the battery compartment, the LEDcarrier assembly including a plurality of internal LEDs, a plurality ofrear contacts electrically interconnecting the cells and the LEDs, and atop switch engaged with the button so that a pressing of the buttoncauses the switch to either turn on the LEDs for blinking or turn offthe LEDs; and a cylindrical head assembly including a front lens forprojecting light and a plurality of inner recesses each having anarcuate section for facilitating the projection to engage with therecess by passing the arcuate side slope through the arcuate sectionwhen turning the head assembly an angle relative to the batterycompartment after engaging; and a clip assembly comprising a ringsleeved around a tube component of the bicycle, a latch fastener forfastening the ring on the tube component, an upper seat having anarcuate wing at either side, each wing having a lengthwise top clawengaged with the lengthwise groove for clamping the battery compartment,a resilient piece on a forward side of the seat, a latch member on theresilient piece, the latch member being adapted to insert into the slotfor fastening the flashlight, and a flexible tab extended forwardly fromthe seat, the tab being adapted to press down to clear the latch memberfrom the slot for disengaging the flashlight from the clip assembly.

[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional flashlight;

[0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a flashlight according to theinvention;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a head assembly shown in FIG.2;

[0012]FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of a batterycompartment for showing a slot;

[0013]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, a projection and a recess beingshown during engaging;

[0014]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, the projection and the recessbeing engaged;

[0015]FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the flashlight secured to a crossbarof bicycle by means of a first preferred embodiment of clip deviceaccording to the invention;

[0016]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the fastened clip device, theflashlight, and the crossbar;

[0017]FIG. 9 is another side plan view of the fastened clip device, theflashlight, and the crossbar;

[0018]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the flashlight illustrating aconnection to a lanyard at its rear holed tab;

[0019]FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the flashlight secured to thecrossbar of bicycle by means of a second preferred embodiment of clipdevice according to the invention; and

[0020]FIG. 12 is another side plan view of the fastened clip deviceshown in FIG. 11, the flashlight, and the crossbar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 a flashlight constructedin accordance with the invention is shown. The flashlight comprises abattery compartment 50 including a forward cylindrical shoulderextension 53, a plurality of projections 55 (three are shown) equallyspaced apart around the shoulder extension 53, each projection 55 havingtwo arcuate side slopes 550, an O-ring 54 behind the projections 55, awaterproof button 51 on an outer surface, a rear holed tab 52 forconnection to a lanyard 57 so as to facilitate carrying, and a bottomslot 56, a battery assembly 20 including three cells 21, a board (notshown), and three coil springs (not shown), a cylindrical LED carrierassembly 60 anchored in a forward portion of the battery compartment 50,the LED carrier assembly 60 including three internal LEDs (not shown), acircuitry (not shown), three rear contacts 62 electricallyinterconnecting the cells 21 and the LEDs, and a top switch 61 engagedwith the button 51 so that a pressing of the button 51 can cause theswitch 61 to either turn on the LEDs for blinking to be served aswarning light of bicycle (as detailed later) or turn off the LEDs, and acylindrical head assembly 70 including a front lens for projecting lightand three inner L-shaped recesses 71 each having an arcuate section 710for facilitating the projection 55 to engage with the recess 71 bypassing the arcuate side slope 550 through the arcuate section 710 whenturning the head assembly 70 a small angle relative to the batterycompartment 50 after engaging. As a result, the head assembly 70 and thebattery compartment 50 are secured together and a water-tight seal ismaintained by compressing the O-ring 54. Such engagement is reliable.Further, disengagement of the head assembly 70 from the batterycompartment 50 can be carried out quickly for cell replacement.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, a first preferred embodiment ofclip device 80 according to the invention is shown. The clip device 80is provided to secure the flashlight to a bicycle component (e.g.,crossbar) 90. In detail, the clip device 80 comprises a ring sleevedaround the crossbar 90, a latch fastener for fastening the ring on thecrossbar 90, an upper seat 81 having two pairs of arcuate wings 810 forclamping the battery compartment 50, a resilient piece 82 on a forwardside of the seat 81, a latch member 83 on the resilient piece 82, thelatch member 83 being adapted to insert into the slot 56 for fasteningthe flashlight, and a flexible tab 84 extended forwardly from the seat81, the tab 84 being adapted to press down to clear the latch member 83from the slot 56 for disengaging the flashlight from the clip device 80.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a second preferred embodiment ofclip device according to the invention is shown. The second preferredembodiment substantially has same structure as the first preferredembodiment. The differences between the first and the second preferredembodiments, i.e., the characteristics of the second preferredembodiment are detailed below. Two arcuate wings 810 are formed. Eachwing 810 comprises a lengthwise flange 811 and a lengthwise claw 812which is engageable with a lengthwise groove 58 at either side of thebattery compartment 50. Such engagement is more reliable.

[0024] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by meansof specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A warning light of a bicycle, comprising: aflashlight comprising: a battery compartment including a forwardcylindrical shoulder extension, a plurality of projections equallyspaced apart around the shoulder extension, each projection having twoarcuate side slopes, an O-ring behind the projections, a waterproofbutton on an outer surface, a rear holed tab for connection to alanyard, and a bottom slot; a battery assembly including a plurality ofcells; a cylindrical LED carrier assembly anchored in a forward portionof the battery compartment, the LED carrier assembly including aplurality of internal LEDs, a plurality of rear contacts electricallyinterconnecting the cells and the LEDs, and a top switch engaged withthe button so that a pressing of the button causes the switch to eitherturn on the LEDs for blinking or turn off the LEDs; and a cylindricalhead assembly including a front lens for projecting light and aplurality of inner recesses each having an arcuate section forfacilitating the projection to engage with the recess by passing thearcuate side slope through the arcuate section when turning the headassembly an angle relative to the battery compartment after engaging;and a clip assembly comprising a ring sleeved around a tube component ofthe bicycle, a latch fastener for fastening the ring on the tubecomponent, an upper seat having two pairs of arcuate wings for clampingthe battery compartment, a resilient piece on a forward side of theseat, a latch member on the resilient piece, the latch member beingadapted to insert into the slot for fastening the flashlight, and aflexible tab extended forwardly from the seat, the tab being adapted topress down to clear the latch member from the slot for disengaging theflashlight from the clip assembly.
 2. The warning light of claim 1,wherein each of the recesses is shaped as an L.
 3. A warning light of abicycle, comprising: a flashlight comprising: a battery compartmentincluding a forward cylindrical shoulder extension, a plurality ofprojections equally spaced apart around the shoulder extension, eachprojection having two arcuate side slopes, an O-ring behind theprojections, a waterproof button on an outer surface, a rear holed tabfor connection to a lanyard, a bottom slot, and a lengthwise groove ateither side thereof; a battery assembly including a plurality of cells;a cylindrical LED carrier assembly anchored in a forward portion of thebattery compartment, the LED carrier assembly including a plurality ofinternal LEDs, a plurality of rear contacts electrically interconnectingthe cells and the LEDs, and a top switch engaged with the button so thata pressing of the button causes the switch to either turn on the LEDsfor blinking or turn off the LEDs; and a cylindrical head assemblyincluding a front lens for projecting light and a plurality of innerrecesses each having an arcuate section for facilitating the projectionto engage with the recess by passing the arcuate side slope through thearcuate section when turning the head assembly an angle relative to thebattery compartment after engaging; and a clip assembly comprising aring sleeved around a tube component of the bicycle, a latch fastenerfor fastening the ring on the tube component, an upper seat having anarcuate wing at either side, each wing having a lengthwise top clawengaged with the lengthwise groove for clamping the battery compartment,a resilient piece on a forward side of the seat, a latch member on theresilient piece, the latch member being adapted to insert into the slotfor fastening the flashlight, and a flexible tab extended forwardly fromthe seat, the tab being adapted to press down to clear the latch memberfrom the slot for disengaging the flashlight from the clip assembly. 4.The warning light of claim 3, wherein each of the recesses is shaped asan L.